Electronic Valve Train Assembly

ABSTRACT

An electronic valve train assembly for performing intake and exhaust duties of an internal combustion engine includes a housing that is mounted to a head of an internal combustion engine. A plurality of valves is each movably integrated into the housing and extends into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. A plurality of magnets is each attached to a respective one of the valves. A plurality of first electromagnets is each positioned within the housing to magnetically attract a respective one of the magnets when the first electromagnets are turned on thereby urging the valves into a closed condition. A plurality of second electromagnets is each positioned within the housing to magnetically attract a respective one of the magnets when the second electromagnets are turned on thereby urging the valves into an open condition.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to valve train devices and more particularly pertains to a new valve train device for performing intake and exhaust duties of an internal combustion engine. The device includes a housing and a plurality of valves that a movably disposed in the housing. A plurality of magnets is each coupled to a respective valve. A plurality of first electromagnets is integrated into the housing and plurality of second electromagnets is integrated into the housing. The first electromagnets and the second electromagnets alternatively magnetically attracts the magnets for opening and closing the valves.

(2) DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 1.98

The prior art relates to valve train devices including an electrically controlled valve train that employs electric actuators for opening and closing valves in an internal combustion engine. The prior art discloses an electronic valve train device that employs electric motors for opening and closing valves in an internal combustion engine. The prior art discloses a variety of hydraulic valve train devices that employ hydraulic pressure for opening and closing valves in an internal combustion engine.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing that is mounted to a head of an internal combustion engine. A plurality of valves is each movably integrated into the housing and extends into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. A plurality of magnets is each attached to a respective one of the valves. A plurality of first electromagnets is each positioned within the housing to magnetically attract a respective one of the magnets when the first electromagnets are turned on thereby urging the valves into a closed condition. A plurality of second electromagnets is each positioned within the housing to magnetically attract a respective one of the magnets when the second electromagnets are turned on thereby urging the valves into an open condition.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front cut-away view of an electronic valve train assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure showing a pair of housing being mounted to an internal combustion engine.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new valve train device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 , the electronic valve train assembly 10 generally comprises an internal combustion engine 12 that has a head 14 and a combustion chamber 16. The internal combustion engine 12 may be an eight cylinder engine, a six cylinder engine, a four cylinder engine or any other type of internal combustion engine that might be found in a passenger vehicle, a cargo vehicle or any other motorized vehicle that is driven on public roadways. A housing 18 is provided which is elongated along a longitudinal axis thereby facilitating the housing 18 to be mounted to the head 14 of the internal combustion engine 12. The housing 18 has a top wall 20, a bottom wall 22 and an outer wall 24 extending between the top wall 20 and the bottom wall 22, and the outer wall 24 has a first lateral side 26, a second lateral side 28, a front side 30 and a back side 32. Each of the first lateral side 26 and the second lateral side 28 has an angled portion 30 angling inwardly toward the bottom wall 22 such that the bottom wall 22 has a width is less than a width of the top wall 20. Furthermore, the housing 18 is elongated between the front side 30 and the back side 32. As is most clearly shown in FIG. 5 , a mounting plate 33 may be integrated into the bottom wall 22 of the housing 18.

The bottom wall 22 has a plurality of holes 34 each extending into an interior of the housing 18, and the holes 34 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed between the front side 30 and the back side 32. The bottom wall 22 abuts a top surface 35 of the head 14 of the internal combustion engine 12 having each of the holes 34 being aligned with a respective one of a plurality of valve guides 36 in the head 14. A plurality of valves 38 is provided and each of the valves 38 is movably integrated into the housing 18. Each of the valves 38 extends outwardly from the housing 18 thereby facilitating each of the valves 38 to extend through the head 14 and into a combustion chamber 16 of the internal combustion engine 12. Additionally, each of the valves 38 may be an intake valve or an exhaust valve of any conventional design that is commonly employed in internal combustion engines.

Each of the valves 38 has a stem 40 and a valve head 42, and the stem 40 has a distal end 44 with respect to the valve head 42. The stem 40 of each of the valves 38 extends through a respective one of the holes 34 in the bottom wall 22 of the housing 18 having the distal end 44 of the stem 40 of each of the valves 38 is positioned within the housing 18. The stem 40 of each of the valves 38 extends through a respective one of the valve guides 36 in the head 14 such the valve head 42 is positioned in the combustion chamber 16 of the internal combustion engine 12.

A plurality of magnets 46 is each attached to a respective one of the valves 38 and each of the magnets 46 is positioned within the housing 18. Each of the magnets 46 has a top surface 48 and a bottom surface 50, and the bottom surface 50 has a flattened portion 52 and a pair of angled portions 54. The flattened 52 portion lies on a plane that is oriented coplanar with the top surface 48 and the flattened portion 52 is positioned between each of the angled portions 54. Each of the angled portions 54 angles upwardly toward the top surface 48 such that each of the magnets 46 has a trapezoidal shape. Furthermore, the stem 40 of each of the valves 38 extends through the flattened portion 52 and the top surface 48 of a respective one of the magnets 46 having the distal end 44 of the stem 40 being exposed on the top surface 48 of the respective magnet 46.

A plurality of first electromagnets 56 is included and each of the first electromagnets 56 is positioned within the housing 18. Each of the first electromagnets 56 magnetically attracts a respective one of the magnets 46 when the first electromagnets 56 are turned on. In this way the valves 38 are urged into a closed condition. Each of the first electromagnets 56 has an upper surface 58 and a lower surface 60, and the upper surface 58 of each of the first electromagnets 56 is bonded to an inside surface 62 of the top wall 20 of the housing 18. Additionally, each of the first electromagnets 56 is aligned with a respective one of the valves 38. Each of the first electromagnets 56 has an opening 64 extending through the lower surface 60 and the upper surface 58. The top surface 48 of each of the magnets 46 abuts the lower surface 60 of a respective one of the first electromagnets 56 when the first electromagnets 56 are turned on having the distal end 44 of the stem 40 of the respective valve extending into the opening 64 when the first electromagnets 56 are turned on.

A plurality of second electromagnets 66 is provided and each of the second electromagnets 66 is positioned within the housing 18. Each of the second electromagnets 66 magnetically attracts a respective one of the magnets 46 when the second electromagnets 66 are turned on thereby urging the valves 38 into an open condition. Each of the second electromagnets 66 has a top surface 68 and a bottom surface 70, and the bottom surface 50 of each of the second electromagnets 66 is bonded to an inside surface 72 of the angled portion 30 of a respective one of the first lateral side 26 and the second lateral side 28 of the outer wall 24 of the housing 18. Additionally, each of the second electromagnets 66 is positioned adjacent to a respective one of the valves 38 having the stem 40 of the respective valve 38 being positioned between a respective pair of the second electromagnets 66. Each of the angled portions 54 of the bottom surface 50 of a respective one of the magnets 46 abuts the top surface 68 of a respective one of the second electromagnets 66 when the second electromagnets 66 are turned on.

A control unit 74 is integrated into the internal combustion engine 12 and the control unit 74 is in communication with each of the first electromagnets 56 and each of the second electromagnets 66. Moreover, the control unit 74 is in communication with an engine control module 76 of the internal combustion engine 12. Each of the first electromagnets 56 is turned on when the control unit 74 receives a close command from the engine control module 76. Additionally, each of the second electromagnets 66 is turned off when the control unit 74 receives the close command from the engine control module 76. Each of the second electromagnets 66 is turned on when the control unit 74 receives an open command from the engine control module 76. Additionally, each of the first electromagnets 56 is turned off when the control unit 74 receives the open command from the engine control module 76. The control unit 74 includes a communication plug 78 and a plurality of conductors 80 that is each electrically coupled to the communication plug 78. The communication plug 78 is electrically matable to an output port 82 on the engine control module 76. Additionally, each of the conductors 80 is electrically coupled to a respective one of the first electromagnets 56 or a respective one of the second electromagnets 66.

As is most clearly shown in FIG. 1 , a pair of the housings 18 may be provided, along with a respective plurality of valves 38, a respective plurality of magnets 46, respective plurality first electromagnets 56 and a respective plurality of second electromagnets 66. Each of the housings 18, along with the respective plurality of valves 38, magnets 46, first electromagnets 56 and second electromagnets 66, may be assigned to perform respective intake duties and exhaust duties for the internal combustion engine 12. The valves 38 in each of the pair of housings 18 assigned to perform the intake and exhaust duties are controlled and operated electronically, rather than with a conventional valve train which would at least include a cam shaft, timing chain and rollers. In this way the overall efficiency of the internal combustion engine 12 is improved and the overall power available to the drive train is increased as compared to a traditional valve train.

In use, each of the second electromagnets 66 that is assigned to perform the intake duties is additionally assigned to a respective cylinder 84 in the internal combustion engine 12. Each of the second electromagnets 66 assigned to perform the intake duties is turned on when the engine control module 76 senses a piston 86 in the respective cylinder 84 is in the intake stroke. In this way the valves 38 assigned to perform the intake duties is opened at the appropriate time to facilitate the fuel air mixture to be drawn into the respective cylinder 84. Each of the first electromagnets 56 that is assigned to perform the intake duties is additionally assigned to a respective cylinder 84 in the internal combustion engine 12. Each of the first electromagnets 56 assigned to perform the intake duties is turned on when the engine control module 76 senses the piston 86 in the respective cylinder 84 is in the compression stroke.

Each of the second electromagnets 66 that is assigned to perform the exhaust duties is additionally assigned to a respective cylinder 84 in the internal combustion engine 12. Each of the second electromagnets 66 assigned to perform the exhaust duties is turned on when the engine control module 76 senses a piston 86 in the respective cylinder 84 is in the exhaust stroke. In this way the valves 38 assigned to perform the exhaust duties is opened at the appropriate time to facilitate the combusted air fuel mixture to be exhausted from the respective cylinder 84. Each of the first electromagnets 56 that is assigned to perform the exhaust duties is additionally assigned to a respective cylinder 84 in the internal combustion engine 12. Each of the first electromagnets 56 assigned to perform the exhaust duties is turned on when the engine control module 76 senses the piston 86 in the respective cylinder 84 is in the compression stroke.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. An electronic valve train assembly for electronically opening and closing valves in an internal combustion engine, said assembly comprising: an internal combustion engine having a head and a combustion chamber; a housing being elongated along a longitudinal axis thereby facilitating said housing to be mounted to said head of said internal combustion engine; a plurality of valves, each of said valves being movably integrated into said housing, each of said valves extending outwardly from said housing thereby facilitating each of said valves to extend through said head and into a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine; a plurality of magnets, each of said magnets being attached to a respective one of said valves, each of said magnets being positioned within said housing; a plurality of first electromagnets, each of said first electromagnets being positioned within said housing, each of said first electromagnets magnetically attracting a respective one of said magnets when said first electromagnets are turned on thereby urging said valves into a closed condition; a plurality of second electromagnets, each of said second electromagnets being positioned within said housing, each of said second electromagnets magnetically attracting a respective one of said magnets when said second electromagnets are turned on thereby urging said valves into an open condition; and a control unit being integrated into said internal combustion engine, said control unit being in communication with each of said first electromagnets and each of said second electromagnets, said control unit being in communication with an engine control module of said internal combustion engine, each of said first electromagnets being turned on when said control unit receives a close command from said engine control module, each of said second electromagnets being turned off when said control unit receives said close command from said engine control module, each of said second electromagnets being turned on when said control unit receives an open command from said engine control module, each of said first electromagnets being turned off when said control unit receives said open command from said engine control module.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said housing has a top wall, a bottom wall and an outer wall extending between said top wall and said bottom wall, said outer wall having a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front side and a back side, each of said first lateral side and said second lateral side having an angled portion angling inwardly toward said bottom wall such that said bottom wall has a width being less than a width of said top wall; said bottom wall has a plurality of holes each extending into an interior of said housing, said holes being spaced apart from each other and being distributed between said front side and said back side; and said bottom wall abuts a top surface of said head of said internal combustion engine having each of said holes being aligned with a respective one of a plurality of valve guides in said head.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said valves has a stem and a valve head, said stem having a distal end with respect to said valve head, said stem of each of said valves extending through a respective one of said holes in said bottom wall of said housing having said distal end of said stem of each of said valves being positioned within said housing, said stem of each of said valves extending through a respective one of said valve guides in said head such said valve head is positioned in said combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine.
 4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein each of said magnets has a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface having a flattened portion and a pair of angled portions, said flat portion lying on a plane being oriented coplanar with said top surface, said flattened portion being positioned between each of said angled portions, each of said angled portions angling upwardly toward said top surface such that each of said magnets has a trapezoidal shape, said stem of each of said valves extending through said flattened portion and said top surface of a respective one of said magnets having said distal end of said stem being exposed on said top surface of said respective magnet.
 5. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said first electromagnets has an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface of each of said first electromagnets being bonded to an inside surface of a top wall of said housing, each of said first electromagnets being aligned with a respective one of said valves, each of said first electromagnets having an opening extending through said lower surface and said upper surface.
 6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein: each of said magnets has a top surface; each of said valves includes a stem having a distal end; and said top surface of each of said magnets abuts said lower surface of a respective one of said first electromagnets when said first electromagnets are turned on having said distal end of said stem of said respective valve extending into said opening when said first electromagnets are turned on.
 7. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said second electromagnets has a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface of each of said second electromagnets being bonded to an inside surface of said angled portion of a respective one of said first lateral side and said second lateral side of said outer wall of said housing.
 8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein each of said second electromagnets is positioned adjacent to a respective one of said valves having said stem of said respective valve being positioned between a respective pair of said second electromagnets.
 9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein each of said angled portions of said bottom surface of a respective one of said magnets abuts said top surface of a respective one of said second electromagnets when said second electromagnets are turned on.
 10. An electronic valve train assembly for electronically opening and closing valves in an internal combustion engine, said assembly comprising: an internal combustion engine having a head and a combustion chamber; a housing being elongated along a longitudinal axis thereby facilitating said housing to be mounted to said head of said internal combustion engine, said housing having a top wall, a bottom wall and an outer wall extending between said top wall and said bottom wall, said outer wall having a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front side and a back side, each of said first lateral side and said second lateral side having an angled portion angling inwardly toward said bottom wall such that said bottom wall has a width being less than a width of said top wall, said bottom wall having a plurality of holes each extending into an interior of said housing, said holes being spaced apart from each other and being distributed between said front side and said back side, said bottom wall abutting a top surface of said head of said internal combustion engine having each of said holes being aligned with a respective one of a plurality of valve guides in said head; a plurality of valves, each of said valves being movably integrated into said housing, each of said valves extending outwardly from said housing thereby facilitating each of said valves to extend through said head and into a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine, each of said valves having a stem and a valve head, said stem having a distal end with respect to said valve head, said stem of each of said valves extending through a respective one of said holes in said bottom wall of said housing having said distal end of said stem of each of said valves being positioned within said housing, said stem of each of said valves extending through a respective one of said valve guides in said head such said valve head is positioned in said combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine; a plurality of magnets, each of said magnets being attached to a respective one of said valves, each of said magnets being positioned within said housing, each of said magnets having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface having a flattened portion and a pair of angled portions, said flat portion lying on a plane being oriented coplanar with said top surface, said flattened portion being positioned between each of said angled portions, each of said angled portions angling upwardly toward said top surface such that each of said magnets has a trapezoidal shape, said stem of each of said valves extending through said flattened portion and said top surface of a respective one of said magnets having said distal end of said stem being exposed on said top surface of said respective magnet; a plurality of first electromagnets, each of said first electromagnets being positioned within said housing, each of said first electromagnets magnetically attracting a respective one of said magnets when said first electromagnets are turned on thereby urging said valves into a closed condition, each of said first electromagnets having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface of each of said first electromagnets being bonded to an inside surface of said top wall of said housing, each of said first electromagnets being aligned with a respective one of said valves, each of said first electromagnets having an opening extending through said lower surface and said upper surface, said top surface of each of said magnets abutting said lower surface of a respective one of said first electromagnets when said first electromagnets are turned on having said distal end of said stem of said respective valve extending into said opening when said first electromagnets are turned on; a plurality of second electromagnets, each of said second electromagnets being positioned within said housing, each of said second electromagnets magnetically attracting a respective one of said magnets when said second electromagnets are turned on thereby urging said valves into an open condition, each of said second electromagnets having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface of each of said second electromagnets being bonded to an inside surface of said angled portion of a respective one of said first lateral side and said second lateral side of said outer wall of said housing, each of said second electromagnets being positioned adjacent to a respective one of said valves having said stem of said respective valve being positioned between a respective pair of said second electromagnets, each of said angled portions of said bottom surface of a respective one of said magnets abutting said top surface of a respective one of said second electromagnets when said second electromagnets are turned on; and a control unit being integrated into said internal combustion engine, said control unit being in communication with each of said first electromagnets and each of said second electromagnets, said control unit being in communication with an engine control module of said internal combustion engine, each of said first electromagnets being turned on when said control unit receives a close command from said engine control module, each of said second electromagnets being turned off when said control unit receives said close command from said engine control module, each of said second electromagnets being turned on when said control unit receives an open command from said engine control module, each of said first electromagnets being turned off when said control unit receives said open command from said engine control module, said control unit including a communication plug and a plurality of conductors each being electrically coupled to said communication plug, said communication plug being electrically matable to an output port on said engine control module, each of said conductors being electrically coupled to a respective one of said first electromagnets or a respective one of said second electromagnets. 